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Amazon's one-day SanDisk sale includes $30 off a 1TB portable SSD
Today only, Amazon is discounting a bunch of SanDisk storage products.
The best toaster oven
By Brendan Nystedt This post was done in partnership with Wirecutter, reviews for the real world. When readers choose to buy Wirecutter's independently chosen editorial picks, it may earn affiliate commissions that support its work. Read the full article here. After more than 50 hours of research and testing—and making stacks and stacks of toasted white bread, mini pizza bagels, and cookies—we think the Panasonic FlashXpress toaster oven is the best for most people. This model performed as well as (or better than) models that cost twice as much. The Panasonic FlashXpress delivers four slices of perfectly browned toast every time due to its unique combination of both quartz and ceramic infrared heating elements. Its compact size takes up less space on a counter, and its interior is still large enough to comfortably reheat leftovers and frozen snacks.
Engadget giveaway: win an iPad Air 2 and iXpand drive courtesy of SanDisk!
Let's face it, devices offer more storage space than ever, but our expectations (and file sizes) are growing too. If you'd like to free up some room and quickly transfer files between iDevices running iOS 7.1 or greater, SanDisk's new iXpand could be a welcome addition to your arsenal. This flash drive has USB and Lightning connectors for high-speed data transfers, and with its companion app, you can even watch AVI and WMV clips on your iPhone or iPad without conversion. The company has provided us with a 32GB iXpand for one lucky Engadget reader this week, and they'll also get a new iPad Air 2 to round out the deal. All you need to do is head down to the Rafflecopter widget below for up to three chances at winning this spacious tablet and flash drive combo. Winner: congratulations to Thomas N. (New Port Richey, FL).
SanDisk iXpand Flash: Bring extra storage to your iOS device
As much as we all love our iOS devices, there's something that some Android and Windows Phone devices usually have that would be really nice to have on an iPhone or iPad - expandable storage. Some of those devices have an SD, mini-SD, or micro-SD card slot into which you can drop an inexpensive flash card, making it simple to transfer files between devices or store tons of content (photos, videos, etc...) on a removable card. Now SanDisk is bringing some of that flexibility to Lightning-equipped iOS devices with the new iXpand Flash drive (US$59.99 for 16 GB, $79.99 for 32 GB, and $119.99 for 64 GB). While it seems unique, the iXpand Flash really isn't something new. A few years ago, I reviewed the PhotoFlash i-FlashDrive HD, an 8 GB to 64 GB solution with an accompanying app that added a file system to iOS for storing just about any type of file. The device worked well; in fact, I still use it regularly to move masses of files between Mac and iPad. SanDisk's solution will have a bit more clout, primarily it's from a company that is huge and well known. SanDisk has a presence in 300,000 retail storefronts, and the company has a 36 percent global revenue market share in the flash drive world, so the brand has gathered both familiarity and trust. Design In terms of design, the SanDisk iXPand Flash is much more polished than the PhotoFast solution. The former was a white plastic device with a 30-pin Dock connector on one end and a USB connector on the other, with a USB to Lightning adapter thrown on for the newer devices. Unfortunately, that design meant that in many situations, cases had to be removed from iPads and iPhones in order for the connector to be plugged in. Not so with the iXpand Flash. It features a sleek metal-looking body with a flexible Lightning adapter that is stowed in one side. Atop the device is the USB connector, protected with a smoked plastic cover. The whole shootin' match weighs a scant .9 ounce (25.5 grams) and takes up a small volume of about 2.48 x 1.46 x .39 inches (63mm x 37mm x 10mm). It looks good - much better than the somewhat kludgy PhotoFast i-FlashDrive HD - but how does it function in the real world? Functionality The idea behind devices like the iXpand Flash is that regardless of how much space you have on an iPhone or an iPad, chances are really good that you're going to take a lot of photos or videos and run out of storage. To offload those photos and videos, you plug the iXpand Flash drive into your iOS device, use the accompanying free iXpand Sync app to grab the content and store it in a folder or folders on the drive, and then optionally use the USB connector to copy the content to a PC or Mac for backup. I tested beta versions of iXpand Sync on an iPad Air. When the drive is connected and the app is launched, it presents a clean layout showing a group of folders (ASSETS, Documents, Music, Photos, Videos), Mac and PC executables for SanDisk's SecureAccess V2 software, and a couple of QuickStart guides. One QuickStart guide shows how to plug the drive into a iOS device, as well as how to interpret the tiny LED on the side of the drive. The iXpand Flash drive does have a battery, and a green LED indicates that it is charged, a red LED indicates a low battery state (in which case you plug the drive into a USB port for charging), and a yellow LED indicates that the drive is being charged. To move something from your device to the drive, you tap the large red plus sign button at the bottom of the iXpand Sync display. You're asked if iXpand Sync has your permission to access your photos, and your photo library is visible once you give the OK. Images can be viewed by individual photos or by albums. To select an image or file, you simply tap on its thumbnail in the app and a large red check mark appears on it. A large "Select Destination" button appears at the bottom of the screen; tap on it, and you're presented with the file system for the device. You can either tap on one of the pre-created folders, or create a new folder with the tap of a button. I used three different pre-release versions of the app and ran into some difficulties; after deleting and reloading the app several times, I was finally able to get it to work consistently and properly. I should note that the competing i-FlashDrive app was quite buggy when it first appeared on the App Store, and it has gotten consistently better with time. One of the app's features includes the ability to do a Camera Sync. This takes all of the images in your Photo Library and saves them to a "Camera Roll Backup" folder the first time it is run, then synchronizes any additions made to the iPhone or iPad by copying those to the drive the next time you connect it. The sync was quite speedy, taking about 17 seconds to copy over ten DSLR images ranging in size from 6 to 10.3 MB in size. The drive had no issues copying some large video files, although it did slow down a bit. There's also a built-in function for transferring contacts to a backup folder, which is always a good idea. Another useful function of the iXpand Flash is for moving large productivity app files between iOS and Mac or PC. I had a number of Keynote presentations that I needed to move from my Mac to an iPad Air, and it was easy to copy them onto the iXpand Flash, then from the iXpand Flash to the Air. You can name your drive anything you want - the test device was blessed with my last name - which is actually quite useful if you end up with more than one of the devices. Conclusion I was quite pleased with both the design and the functionality of the SanDisk iXpand Flash drive. If I have any complaint, it's that the devices are relatively expensive compared to plain flash drives. For example, I can pick up a SanDisk Cruzer 64GB flash drive for about $30 on Amazon; it's almost highway robbery to charge four times as much for one that's had a Lightning connector and some software added to it. Despite the price tag, the SanDisk iXpand Flash drive is still a useful accessory for anyone who needs to transfer a number of large files between iOS devices and Macs or PCs. Rating: 3-1/2 stars out of 4 stars possible
12GB flash-based PlayStation 3 on sale in North America, despite Sony's prior claims
In September of last year, Sony threw in an interesting nugget when it shipped the third-generation PS3: there'd be a unique, more affordable 12GB flash-based unit exclusively for Europe and Hong Kong. Sure, it doesn't do much good for those who boast huge game libraries or prefer to store odds and ends locally, but Sony clearly determined that there'd be a real market for such a product. Sony Computer Entertainment America VP of marketing, handhelds and home consoles John Koller sat down with us following the launches, and made a point to tell us the following: "The smaller Flash drive isn't coming to North America, and a lot of that reason is the digital consumer. We really want to make sure, out of the box, that there is an option for them to be able to download that content. That is really critical for us, very very important." 180s happen quite frequently in the technology world, and it seems that we're peering at another here. Canada's own Future Shop has the 12GB PS3 listed right now as "In Stock" for $199.99, and a number of stock trackers are confirming that units are trickling into brick and mortar locations across various provinces. This all jibes nicely with a recent PlayStation Lifestyle rumor that suggests the system is coming to both Canada and the United States on August 18th, leaving us to assume that this particular store simply managed to get a jump on the competition. All that said, you can get a new 500GB PS3 with Grand Theft Auto V for just $70 more (or another, more sizable unit for even less on the secondhand market) -- but hey, options! Update: We've received an image (shown after the break) of the 12GB PlayStation 3 in a Kmart stockroom here in the United States. The "do not sell until" date is predictably labeled as August 18th, which means that Yanks should be able to get their hands on one of these without an impromptu road trip up north in just a few days. [Thanks, Jean-Philippe]
LaCie XtremKey USB 3.0: the flash drive you want for the zombie apocalypse
USB flash drives are usually a yawner, something that is more of a giveaway item (at least to the press) at trade shows than something that deserves a blogger's attention. However, LaCie has introduced the XtremKey USB 3.0 flash drive in 32 GB (US$84.99) and 64 GB ($139.99) versions, and it's definitely worth your time to read about this ruggedized flash drive. Design and Functionality The XtremKey can handle just about anything you throw at it. In the video embedded at the bottom of this post, LaCie puts one to the test in a deep-fat fryer (along with some tasty sweet potato fries!), dipped in a bottle of liquid nitrogen, immersed in burning alcohol, placed under a steamroller on asphalt, and hacked with a machete. If it can put up with this and still keep your data safe with AES 256-bit encryption, it's definitely going to survive a ride in your pocket with your keys. You can take the XtremKey scuba diving down to 200 meters (656 feet), and it's designed to take a 10 meter (32.8 feet) drop without a problem. The XtremKey gets its stark good looks from French designer Constance Guisset, who placed the brains of the flash drive inside a steel truncated cone with a threaded and o-ring sealed opening on one end. At the top of the cone is a hole for a key ring, and the rest of the device is unadorned except for some markings on the slightly rounded bottom end. Note: if you don't like things to move on your desk, you're probably going to dislike what Guisset did here -- when you place the XtremKey in an upright position, it wobbles a bit and finally settles down. To quote LaCie, "While it's standing on its end, its equilibrium is fragile and awkward. It dances on the tables and always finds a non-straight position." %Gallery-190348% Of course, a flash drive is only as good as the speed and storage that it provides. Upon connecting it to my MacBook Pro, the XtremKey initially didn't show up, so I popped into Disk Utility and formatted it. At that point it mounted properly, and I was able to test the read/write speeds using AJA System Test. The average write speed over a number of tests was 83.3 MB/s, while the read speed was a blindingly fast 194.1 MB/s. That's the fastest USB 3.0 drive read speed we've benchmarked, although the write speeds are about half of those of a Seagate USB 3.0 drive we tested last year. LaCie provides some free software downloads with the purchase of an XtremKey. First, you get a free 32 or 64 GB of storage over at LaCie's Wuala cloud service, enough to back up your XtremKey online. Next, there's the LaCie Keys Software; a version written especially for the XtremKey. It contains Intego Backup Assistant, LaCie Private Public (encryption software), an XtremKey icon for the Finder, and the Wuala Link software for connecting your computer to the Wuala service. If you already use Time Machine for backups, decide to use Apple's encryption, and have a Dropbox account, just can forget about downloading this software. As for testing, I did verify that the XtremKey had no problems sitting in the bottom of my sink for two hours. A trip to the bottom of a swimming pool should be no problem either. I don't own a machete, so whacking it with one was out of the question. If I have one complaint about the XtremKey USB 3.0, it's that the bottom (removable) part should have some knurling on it so that your fingers can actually get a grip to tighten or loosen the key. As it is, it's sometimes almost impossible to get the XtremKey open, especially if your fingers are moist. My wife suffers from rheumatoid arthritis and it was impossible for her to get enough of a grip on the XtremKey's bottom to get it open. Note to LaCie: sometimes it's more important to make a product functional than it is to give it a unique design. Conclusion Now that USB 3.0 is the mainstream for new Macs, portable high-capacity storage devices like the LaCie XtremKey USB 3.0 are perfect for transferring files or creating encrypted backups. The XtremKey provides fast, portable, and durable storage that can take a hell of a beating and still keep your files safe, at a cost. Pros One of the fastest read times we've seen on any USB 3.0 drive Waterproof, heat proof, cold proof, and able to take shocks and pressure that would destroy other flash drives Very unique design for a flash drive Cons Bottom needs some knurling or ridges to make it easier to unscrew Quite expensive; many other USB 3.0 flash drives are available at less than a quarter of the price of the XtremKey Who is it for? Anyone who needs the portable storage of a flash drive in a virtually indestructible casing
Kingston's DataTraveler HyperX Predator: a 1TB USB 3.0 flash drive
A 1TB flash drive? Frankly, we're incredulous, but that's what Kingston is claiming it'll begin selling later in Q1. The DataTraveler HyperX predator 3.0 promises read/write speeds of up to 240MB/s and 160MB/s respectively and there's a 512GB version available right now. At the same time, Kingston is launching 32GB and 64GB versions that offer read/write speeds of 150MB/s and 70MB/s. If you're interested in snagging one of the top two units, be advised that the price of the 512GB edition is a staggering $1,750.00 -- so you'd better get working on impressing that MLB scout next time they're passing by. Follow all the latest CES 2013 news at our event hub.
Samsung SSD 840 Pro caters to speed seekers with faster random access
It's difficult to thrive in the solid-state drive world. Unless you've got just the right controller and flash memory, most performance-minded PC users will rarely give you a second glance. Samsung muscled its way into that narrow view with the SSD 830 last year; it intends to lock our attention with the new SSD 840 and SSD 840 Pro. The Pro's 520MB/s and 450MB/s sequential read and write speeds are only modest bumps over the 830, but they don't tell the whole story of just how fast it gets. The upgraded MDX controller boosts the random read access to a nicely rounded 100,000IOPS, and random writes have more than doubled to 78,000IOPS or 90,000IOPS, depending on who you ask and what drive you use. The improved performance in either direction is a useful boost to on-the-ground performance, as both AnandTech and Storage Review will tell you. We're waiting on details of the ordinary triple level cell-based 840 model beyond its 120GB, 250GB and 500GB capacities, although there won't be an enormous premium for the multi-level cell 840 Pro over existing drives when it arrives in mid-October -- the flagship line should start at $100 for a basic 64GB drive, and peak at $600 for the ultimate 512GB version.
Western Digital builds 5mm-thick hybrid hard drive, Ultrabook makers sign on early
Those 7mm-thick hard drives you've seen in some Ultrabooks are already looking a tad on the chunky side. Western Digital has started producing sample versions of a hybrid hard drive (you're not yet looking at it here) that measures just 5mm (0.2in) tall, even as it crams in both flash and a 500GB main disk. If you think the slimmer drive is just the ticket for a best-of-all-worlds laptop that's both fast and capacious, you're not alone: Acer and ASUS have mentioned their collaboration in the same breath, which may be a strong clue as to where future Aspires and Zenbooks are going. The remaining question is when they arrive. Sampling isn't the same as mass production, which could leave us with months to go before the 5mm drive lands in future extra-skinny PCs.
Victorinox offers refunds for secure USB drives in light of discontinued software updates
Software support and security certificates are coming to an end for Victorinox's line of secure USB drives, but the firm announced on Facebook that it's offering customers full refunds until December 31 if they'd like to return their products in light of the developments. In order to avoid losing data, owners of the flash drives should perform a backup before the encryption application meets its untimely end on September 15th. However, files stored on non-encrypted areas of the device will remain accessible without further action. The Slim, Secure and Presentation Master storage sticks can still be used as run-of-the-mill thumb drives after the cut-off date, but the Swiss Army Knife maker's application will no longer be able to scramble or unscramble their contents.
Victorinox nixes software updates for USB drives, security certificate to expire in September
Victorinox may have offered a hefty bounty to crack its secure USB drives' encryption, but the storage sticks seem to have met their match another way: the end of software support. In an email sent to customers and a pair of Facebook posts, the firm announced that it will halt updates as of next month and that its security program's VeriSign certificate is only valid until September 15th. As a result, customers are urged to backup their data lickity split. According to the outfit, the economics of continuing application development just weren't reasonable and it'll now refer to a third party for all software. However, the Swiss Army Knife maker isn't out of the flash drive business -- it's committed to putting more of the devices on the market. We've reached out to the company for more details on how the thumb drives will be affected and we'll update when we get word. In the meantime, hit the source links for the notice or check out the e-mail below. [Thanks, Scott]
New York artist fashions dead drop from dying hardware, mounts DVD burner in city wall
The optical drive may be making its exit in the world of personal computing, but at least it seems to still have a place in artistic architecture. Aram Bartholl -- the man behind New York City's infamous USB dead drops -- has installed a DVD burner into the side of the Museum of the Moving Image to promote HOT, an art exhibition described as "a group show about video that is not video." Passersby who pop in a blank DVD-R will be rewarded with a digital copy of the show and the satisfaction of finally having something to do with their aging stash of unused optical media. Just how do you install PC hardware in a museum wall? Drill an enormous hole, of course -- check out a video of the installation for yourself after the break.
Halo 4 requires 'at least' 8GB flash drive, hard drive 'recommended' [Update: MS responds]
As seems to be becoming tradition for the series, Halo 4 will require quite a bit of storage to play. Specifically, Xbox.com notes that players will need "at least an 8GB USB flash drive or an Xbox 360 Hard Drive" in order to play Halo 4's multiplayer mode. Furthermore, the hard drive option is "highly recommended" for those seeking an "optimal" experience.We've contacted Microsoft to see what differences there will be between each option – and exactly what is meant by the fairly all-encompassing term "multiplayer" – but, in the meantime, one thing is clear: in the off chance that you might want to play some Halo 4 multiplayer, you'll need some storage to do it.Update: Microsoft has responded to our queries, noting that "Halo 4 will offer an optimal experience if played using a hard drive, but will deliver a visually impressive and immersive gameplay experience whether you use a hard drive or a flash storage device." Furthermore, as to which multiplayer modes require storage: All of them. Specifically, "the multiplayer modes the storage requirement applies to encompass all Xbox Live-enabled modes."
SanDisk outs Extreme USB 3.0 flash drive alongside a trio of Cruzers
If diminutive USB-friendly storage is a hobby of yours, SanDisk is looking to add to your collection. The company has announced its USB 3.0-weilding Extreme flash drive and added a handful of new siblings to the Cruzer line. First, the Extreme accessory touts transfer speeds of up to 190MB/s while offering storage capacities ranging from 16GB on up to 64GB. This portable storage device is now shipping and will set you back somewhere between $65 and $160. If you're looking to carry a truckload of photos, videos, music or whatever else on a USB flash drive, the company has also unveiled the Cruzer Glide. While only 4GB to 64GB options are available now starting at $19.99, a 128GB model is slated to arrive in Q3 for $250. Not looking for super-sized capacity at your fingertips? Perhaps the Cruzer Facet or Pop will better suit your sensibilities -- both carry 8GB up to 32GB worth of storage with a price range of $32.99 to $84.99. For a few brief details on the four, hit that PR button below to read on.
RunCore rolls out Pro VI SSD for Ultrabooks in need of a jolt
Not to be left out of the Computex party, RunCore has just unveiled a 7mm-thick Pro VI solid-state drive to give new Ultrabooks a swift kick. The company is aiming squarely at the sunnier side of mid-range SSDs through a speedy JMicron controller that hits 550MB/s in reads, and a less aggressive but still brisk 380MB/s for writes. The SATA 6Gbps drive doesn't have any special tricks up its sleeves, but there's no doubt that it fits just about any ultrabook category: capacities swing from a very modest 32GB to a 512GB drive meant to take over from ho-hum spinning disks. While RunCore's customer list isn't public material, we wouldn't be surprised if a lot of extra-thin notebooks wending their way out of southeast Asia this year carry the Pro VI inside.
Stuxnet pinned on US and Israel as an out-of-control creation
Ever since Stuxnet was discovered, most of the accusing fingers have been pointed at the US, Israel or both, whether or not there was any evidence; it was hard to ignore malware that seemed tailor-made for wrecking Iranian centrifuges and slowing down the country's nuclear development. As it turns out, Occam's Razor is in full effect. An exposé from the New York Times matter-of-factly claims that the US and Israel coded Stuxnet as part of a cyberwar op, Olympic Games, and snuck it on to a USB thumb drive that infected computers at the Natanz nuclear facility. The reason we know about the infection at all, insiders say, is that it got out of control: someone modified the code or otherwise got it to spread through an infected PC carried outside, pushing Obama to either double down (which he did) or back off. Despite all its connections, the newspaper couldn't confirm whether or not the new Flame malware attack is another US creation. Tipsters did, however, deny that Flame is part of the Olympic Games push -- raising the possibility that there are other agencies at work. [Image credit: David Holt, Flickr]
RunCore's Mini DOM packs single-chip, SATA-based SSD into tiny places
Fitting a truly quick solid-state drive into a small space isn't easy, and for that reason RunCore's new Mini DOM (Disk On Module) stands out from the crowd. It's billed as the first single-chip SSD to use a SATA interface (SATA II, to be exact), giving it that much more bandwidth than the pokey IDE and PATA DOMs of old while remaining under half the size of a regular mSATA drive. RunCore's own tests show it hitting about 113MB/s sequential reads and 47MB/s writes. Neither figure will knock the socks off even a mainstream budget SSD like Intel's SSD 330, but they're more than brisk enough for embedded gear. The drives can survive brutal conditions, too: an Industrial Grade trim level can survive temperatures as chilly as -40F and as scorching as 185F. So, the next time you pry open some military equipment and see one of these sitting inside, in three different formats and capacities from 8GB to 64GB, you'll know exactly what you're looking at.
Verbatim's Store 'n' Go V3 thumb drives pack USB 3.0, start at $20 for 8GB
Portable flash drives specced to USB 3.0 have been around since before Apple's original iPad was introduced, but finding 'em on the cheap can still be quite the task. Enter Verbatim's Store 'n' Go V3 drives, which are set to fit said bill, starting at just $20 bucks for 8GB of storage with options up to 64GB. The USB connector retracts for storage to save you from fussing with caps, and you'll also have your pick from "seven trendy colors." Mum's the word on the maximum transfer speeds you can expect, but we doubt it's a major concern at this price. The Store 'n' Go V3s are already on sale and you'll find more details in the press release after the break.
Digiboo kiosk video service launches, opts for USB drives instead of DVDs
Judging by its quirky name, you'd think Digiboo is anything but an à la carte video service hoping to fight it out with the famed Redbox, or even Qwikster Netflix. The outfit's kiosks allow you to grab a two-day rental from a 700-plus film menu for $3.99, while $14.99 makes any title yours to own. Here's the interesting part -- rather than getting a DVD for your cash, though, you'll insert a flash drive to download your movie in as little as "30 seconds." Digiboo's setting up shop at airports in Portland, Seattle and Minneapolis-St. Paul to start, but mum's the word on its plans for expansion. Taking a trip over to P-Town anytime soon? Be sure to let us know your results if you happen to try it out.
SanDisk makes 128-gigabit flash chip, crams three bits per cell, takes afternoon off
SanDisk has developed a chip that earns it membership in the exclusive 128-gigabit club. Not content with simply matching the Micron / Intel effort, SanDisk and its partner Toshiba claim their new memory uses 19- rather than 20-nanometer cells in the production process. Shrinking the size is one thing, but SanDisk's new chips also use its X3 / three-bit technology. Most memory stores just two bits per cell; cramming in another means fewer cells, less silicon, more savings, cheaper memory, happier geeks. Analyst Jim Handy estimates that the price per gigabyte for the tri-bit breed of flash could be as low as 28 cents, compared to 35 for the Micron / Intel equivalent. Full details in the not-so-compact press release after the break.
